June 2017

You and Me

Engaging with the big questions of life and faith is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.  I love conversations with people of all ages. When I was working in my previous group of parishes I remember showing a group of our very youngest school children around the church.  As we stood looking at the church tower, I asked them if they knew why church bells are rung on Sundays and before services.  One of them replied, quick as a flash: to tell us that God is at home.

A brilliant answer to a question, which led to more questions and a debate about where God is, and whether God is only to be found in church buildings.  We quickly decided that, whilst we hope we will encounter God in our church buildings and church services, God is to be found at all times and in all places.  Perhaps one of the best places to find God is in the time we spend with one another, friends, families and neighbours and in the conversations we share.

As we head into the summer months there are so many opportunities to meet up, spend time together and enjoy one another’s company in our Mission Community of churches.  We are looking forward to the God at Work exhibition in St Andrew’s Colyton, the Songs of Praise services on the beach at Branscombe, the open day at St Winifred’s church, the cream tea in Musbury and many other events and services, including those in Colyford and Southleigh.

One of my favourite poems is called Between, by Richard Skinner a local Devon poet.  In the poem, he describes a God who is not static but dynamic, present in our actions and reactions, in the words we say and in the time we spend together.  This is how it begins:

God is in the ‘and’ of you and me.

Not you, not me; but you and me. *

I hope this summer will be a very special time, enjoying one another’s company, and glimpsing God’s love and goodness in the spaces, activities and conversations we share together.

Hilary

*Between’ published in ‘Leaping and Staggering’, Dilettante Publications. 2^nd Ed. 1996.